Ingestible Therapy Activator System and Method

Abstract

An ingestible therapy activator system and method are provided. In one aspect, the ingestible therapy activator includes an ingestible device having an effector module to send an effector instruction and a responder module associated with a therapeutic device. The responder module may receive and process the effector instruction, resulting in a response by the therapeutic device. Examples of responses by therapeutic device include activating a therapy, deactivating a therapy, modulating a therapy, and discontinuing a therapy.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system for providing instructions to a therapeutic device, the system comprising:
 an ingestible device comprising:   a housing; and   an effector module physically associated with the housing for providing an effector instruction, wherein the ingestible device provides the effector instruction to the effector module upon activation in response to occurrence of a desired event; and   a responder module in communication with the therapeutic device for receiving and processing the effector instruction, wherein the effector instruction alters at least an operation of the therapeutic device.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the effector module comprises a microchip, a power source, and a transmitter. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the ingestible device comprises at least one of an RFID unit, an antenna, and a coil to communicate the effector instruction. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising an ingestible medication physically associated with the ingestible device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a placebo structure physically associated with the ingestible device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a receiver physically associated with the responder module. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the receiver is selected from a group consisting essentially of a receiver adapted to be removably affixed to a living being, a handheld device, an implantable receiver, and a remote device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the responder module is physically associated with the therapeutic device. 
     
     
         21 . A system for providing instructions to a therapeutic device, the device comprising:
 a support structure; and   an effector module physically associated with the support structure for providing an effector instruction,   wherein the device provides the effector instruction to the effector module upon activation in response to occurrence of a desired event; and the effector module communicates the effector instruction for receipt by a responder module in communication with a therapeutic device, wherein the responder module is operable to process the effector instruction for alteration of at least an operation of the therapeutic device.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the effector module comprises a microchip, a power source, and a transmitter. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the ingestible device comprises at least one of an RFID unit, an antenna, and a coil to communicate the effector instruction. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the ingestible device comprises a power source. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an ingestible medication physically associated with the ingestible device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a placebo structure physically associated with the ingestible device. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the effector instruction comprises at least one of a software instruction, a signal, and data. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising the responder module and the therapeutic device. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the responder module comprises a receiver, a microchip, and a transmitter. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises a cardiac device. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the therapeutic device comprises at least one of a lead device, and electrode device, a migraine device, a urinary device, and a gastrointestinal device. 
     
     
         32 . An ingestible therapy activator comprising:
 an ingestible device having an effector module;   an effector instruction generated by the effector module; and   a responder module operable to process the effector instructor and, based on the effector instruction, to generate an alteration of at least an operation of a therapeutic device.